Gray, Abrams receive bonuses; Downs claimed by Yankees

Josiah Gray and CJ Abrams turned their breakthrough seasons into some extra cash.

Gray and Abrams were among the 101 major leaguers who qualified for the league’s pre-arbitration bonus pool this year, which was designed to reward the sport’s best young players for their performances.

Gray was awarded a $311,171 bonus, with Abrams getting $297,023, according to figures published by the Associated Press. Gray’s official 2023 salary was $730,000, bringing his total earnings for the year to $1,041,171. Abrams’ official salary was $724,200, bringing his total earnings to $1,021,223.

As part of its new collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players’ Association, MLB agreed to set aside $50 million toward a new bonus pool that would be dispersed among players who don’t yet have the three years of service time required to qualify for salary arbitration. The highest bonuses went to any such players who finished in the top five in voting for the MVP, Cy Young or Rookie of the Year awards or were named to the All-MLB first or second teams.

Whatever money remained after that was divided up among the other players according to a WAR formula.

Gray ranked 67th among the pre-arbitration players after going 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 30 starts. The right-hander, who turns 26 on Thursday, earned the first All-Star selection of his career and pitched a scoreless inning at the Midsummer Classic in Seattle.

Abrams ranked 74th among the pre-arbitration players after batting .245/.300/.412 with 18 homers and 47 stolen bases in 151 games. The 23-year-old shortstop took off after getting moved into the leadoff spot in early July, producing a .746 OPS, 11 homers and 36 of his steals over his final 73 games.

* Jeter Downs’ time with the Nationals organization officially came to an end Tuesday when the infielder was claimed off waivers by the Yankees.

Downs was designated for assignment last week when the Nats needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster following the signings of Nick Senzel and Dylan Floro. Had he passed through waivers unclaimed, he could have been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester and remained in the organization.

Instead, the Yankees became the latest team to take a chance on the 25-year-old former top prospect, hoping they might finally be able to coax his full potential out of him.

Originally drafted by the Reds with the No. 32 overall pick in 2017, Downs was a key part of two major trades over the next three years. Cincinnati sent him, Homer Bailey and then-pitching prospect Gray to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer following the 2018 seasons. Then in February 2020, Los Angeles made Downs the centerpiece in its trade package (with Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong) to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Red Sox.

Downs never lived up to the hype. He went just 6-for-39 with one homer, one walk and 21 strikeouts in 14 games for Boston in 2022. The Nationals then claimed him off waivers last December and put him at Triple-A, where he hit .236/.358/.379 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 51 games this season. He had two brief stints in D.C., coming off the bench and going 2-for-5 with an RBI and four walks.